Exploring needs-based crafting in daily life: a registered report of a mixed-methods daily diary study

Employee well-being is essential for both individual fulfillment and organizational productivity. This registered report outlines a mixed-methods daily diary study designed to understand how employees use needs-based crafting strategies to fulfill their psychological needs across work and nonwork domains. Over a four-week period, 100 employees from diverse occupational sectors in Germany will participate. Data collection includes a baseline survey, daily diary assessments over two weeks, and a follow-up survey in the final week. The study captures both quantitative and qualitative data on daily crafting strategies, contextual influences, and individual differences. Quantitative analyses will examine within-person fluctuations and between-person differences in needs-based crafting and well-being indicators using multilevel modeling. Qualitative responses will be analyzed thematically and further explored for variations across employee subgroups defined by individual characteristics and well-being profiles. The study aims to uncover how employees actively shape their daily experiences to meet core psychological needs, how these strategies vary across individuals and contexts, and how they relate to employee well-being. Findings are expected to inform future interventions and practical recommendations for supporting employee well-being through needs-based crafting approaches in both work and nonwork life domains.